WAYCROSS, Ga. — A synagogue in Waycross is left to pick up the pieces after a burglar broke-in and vandalized the property.
“That’s how bad the carpet was...just everywhere,” Al Jacobson, a past president and current caretaker of the Waycross Hebrew Center said while putting his hand on a chair coated in fire extinguisher chemical.
He been part of the Waycross Jewish community for 89 years and never has he seen anything like this.
A burglar broke the glass to the synagogue then took the fire extinguisher and made a mess that has taken days to clean-up.
“It took about 6 hours to get just that part,” Jacobson said.
A concerned citizen called police May 29 saying there was damage visible outside.
The break-in could have happened over the course of several days while Jacobson was away, but he believes whoever did this targeted the center.
“I think it was hate because when you do something like this . . . I mean they messed it up,” Jacobson said.
Waycross Police said they’ve collected evidence from the scene and are currently looking for suspects. Those responsible face felony charges.
“It’s just sad situation for someone to go into a religious center of any kind including a temple and damage it,” Waycross Police Department Captain Danny Hampton said.
The paw prints of a small dog also appear in what remains of the fire extinguisher’s path.
Jacobson said a menorah was also damaged and whoever broke in took items from the kitchen.
But it’s the kind words and support he’s grateful for as the clean-up continues.
“I’ve had so many phone calls and messages on Facebook of people wanting to help,” Jacobson said. “That’s just the way Waycross is.”